2019 Cohort Summer Program

The 2019 Alfie Scholars cohort will begin their education at Seattle University on Saturday, June 29, with an all-day Scholar Orientation and Retreat. They will then meet for three-hour sessions from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, July 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st. These July sessions focus on research and writing about contemporary societal issues that will form the foundation for their research papers and presentations for the Philosophy of the Civil Person core class that begins August 5, 2019.

That course is designed to meet the educational objectives of both the Alfie Scholars Program and Seattle University. In addition to the Philosophy course, Alfie Scholars will receive tailored wrap-around programming to enrich their academic experience, to cultivate the mission of leadership and civility, and to build relationships with other Alfie Scholars and members of the Seattle University community.

In this short summer experience, our goal is to provide Alfie Scholars with every type of academic experience they will engage in as students in their Seattle University courses and to facilitate their development of a professional presence. We work extensively on developing their life’s purpose, and a highlight of the program is the Alfie Scholar Summer Conferences. Alfie Juniors serve as moderators for the day-long Alfie Seniors Conference: The Ethics of Civility. Two weeks later, the Alfie Juniors will present at their own Alfie Juniors Conference: The Philosophy of the Civil Person, where Alfie Seniors will serve as moderators.

During the 2019–2020 academic year, the Alfie Scholar program provides instruction and guidance designed to continue the development of leaders for civility and also to further nurture the development of community within the cohort.

During the 2020–2021 school year, the 2019 Alfie Scholars cohort will reconvene to attend their second required core curriculum course: The Ethics of Civility. In this course, Alfie Seniors will use the lens of philosophy to deepen their understanding of ethics and civility and to continue to sharpen their critical thinking, analytic, writing, and presentation skills. The culmination of this course is the day-long Alfie Seniors Conference: The Ethics of Civility.